After the gold rush, those who stayed in Deadwood believed in Deadwood. But the fire of 1879, near rush's end, made them take stock. Some left the gold camp. Others stayed and started anew. Some, like James K. P. Miller, built new brick stores. Others chose to rebuild what they had before the fire. Some wanted more churches and a better fire department and water supply. But all who stayed thought they could profit by doing so. The town's struggle to survive grew a public spirit that dissolved most differences. Once the town was stable, competing visions held sway.